Automobile-wheel.



A. JOHNSTON.. AUTOMOBILE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 19.12.

Patented Jan. 21, 1918.

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A. JOHNSTON. AUTOMOBILE WHEEL. APPLoATIoN FILED AUG. 16, 1912.

Patented Ja11.21, 1913.

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wom m of theV specification, Figure sfr 1km: @Fhlttli ALBERT JOHNSTON, OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.

AUTOMOBILE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21,1913.

Application filed August 1G, 1912. Serial No. 715,478.

T0 all 'whom it may e011 cern Be it known that l, Arianna' JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at'I Great Falls, in the county of Cascade and State of lVlontana, have invented new and useful Improvements in utomobilejdhccls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to a vehicle wheel having a tread so as to compensate for shock and vibration and thereby secure ease and comfort to the occupant of the ve hiele as well as to minimize the wear upon the rolling stock and machinery.

The invention in'ovides a. wheel designed mostI especially foI automobiles and to take the place of the pneumatic tire which is susceptible to puncture, the present invention providing a wheel having a practically nonpuncturable tire. a

The invention consists of the novel fea.- tures, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part 1 is a side view of an automobile wheel embodying the in vention, a part of the wheel being in section and portions broken away. Fig. Z is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of F i g. 1, showing the parts on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the parts on a larger scale.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to inthe following description, and indicated in all-the views of the d "awings, by the same reference characters. 'y

The wheel in its general formation embodies a hub, spokes and rim. The hub `indicated at 1 and is formed at its outer edge with an annular chamber 2 and is provided at its center with an opening in which is fitted an axle box 3 having a flange 4 near its inner end to receive bolts 5 by means of which the box is secured to the hub. A band @,having atlange 7 at its inner end, strength'- ens the outer end of the axle box, the ilange ,7 having openings in register with the openings of the flange l to receive the bolts 5 which clamp the parts to opposite sides of the hub. A band 8 having a flange 9 is secured to the inner side of the lmb 1 by means of the looltsl 5, the flange t) being held between the hub 1 andthe tiange v-1-', the bolts passing through openings formed in the flange 9. rl.`he axle box has a liub'cap 10 at its outer end.

A plurality of spokes are connected at their inner ends with the hub 1,I certain spokes opening into the annular chamber 2. The spokes may be'divided into three groups or sets which are designated by the respective numerals 11, 1Q and 13. T he spokes are preferably hollow, although this formation is not essential. with the spokes 12. The, spokes 11 form pump barrels of air com pressors which charge the annular space 2 `with air under pressure. The spokes 13 receive plungers 11, which are provided atl their outer ends with small wheels 15 which are arranged to travel upon the inner wiill of the tire 1G. The spokes 11 have openings 17 near their inner ends and receive plungers 18 which are connected with the tire 16 to move therewith, whereby the plungers 1S are caused to reciprocate in the spokes or barrels 11. A stem 19 is connected at its inner end with each of the plungers 1S and has a head Q0 at its outer end which is longitudinally slotted to receive a pin 21, which is supported at its ends in side members of a bracket 22 secured to the inner wall of the tire 1G. The tire has a limited circumferential movement, hence the necessity of the pin and slot connection between the plunger 18 and the rim. A tube 23 is connected to the inner end of each spoke or pump barrel 11 and has openings 2l in its sides to establish communication between the tube and the annular' chamber 2. .5k cap is threaded to the outer end of the tube 2 and closes the same. The inner end of the spoke -or pump barrel is closed by means of a partitionin which is formed an opening' 2G, the end of such opening facing the tube 2B being i'iared to provide a valve seat against which a valve 9.7 closes hy an outward action. The stem 28 of the valve QT extends through the tube 23' and through an opening formed in the cap 3.5 and receives an pansible spring Q0 of helical form, said spring serving to hold the valve 27 closed.v

i Upon thev outward movement of the plunger 18 air is drawn into the inner end of the spoke or pump barrel 11 and when the plunger '18 is. pressed inward theA air is forced frein the part 11v into the annular chamber 2. The valve 27 opens to admit the air passing from the compressor into the annular chamber 2 and closes to prevent the escape of such air which is confined to be usetllin the manner hereinafter described.

Toggle links 30 connect the outer ends of the spokes 12 wit-h the tire 1G and limit the circumferential movement of such tire, while at 'the same time admitting of the tire moving in and out to compensate for the change of the load sustaining point. brackets 31.are secured to the inner wall of the tire 16 and the outer' end of the toggle connection is pivoted thereto.

A rim 32 consisting of a channel iron has the outer ends of the several spokes connected thereto. The rim 32 consists ofa channel iron and is arrangedwitli the channel or hollow side facing outward. The tire 1(3.is also of channel form and is arranged with its hollow orichannel side facing inward. Rings33 are secured at their inner edges to the outer sides of the rim 32 and their outer edge port-ions engage the inner edges of the tire 16 so as to maintain a close joint therewith and prevent the entrance of dust or other foreign matter into the space formed between the rim 32 and tire 1S. The rings 33 are secured to the rim 32 by means of bolts 34. I

The inner ends of the spokes orbarrels 13 communicate with the annular space 2, lhence receive the pressure of the air confined in said annular chamber, said air-pressure 40.

exerting itself upon thc plunger 14 to press the same outward and sustain the load. It vill be understood'that the tire is sustained y pneumatic pressure, hence is adapted to yield so as to absorb shock and vibration and thereby secure ease and comfort to the occupant of a vehicle equipped with wheels embodying the invention as Well as to prevent excessive wear on such vehicle and the machinery thereof. A relief valve 35 provided upon the hub controls the air pressure within the annular chamber 2, thereby` admitting of a predetermined pressure being obtained for action upon the plungers 111 to sustain the load.

i From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages ofv the construction and of themethod of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appcrtains, and while I have described. the principle of operation of the 'invention, together with the device which 1 new consider to be the best embodiment theieof, I -d'esire to have it understood that Notched4 the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. A wheel having a movable tire forming a yielda-ble tread and comprising a hub having an annular space, spokes supported in the hub and having certa-in spokes" in commiinication with the annular space, a rim having the outer 'ends oef the spokes attached thereto, plungers arranged to operate in certain spokes and having their outer ends arranged .to engage the inner wallof the tire, connecting means between certain other spokes and the tire to limit the circumferential play of said tire, and phmgers arranged to operate in certain other spokes and having connection withthe tire and adapted to charge the annular space of the hub with air under pressure. l

2. A wheel ofthe character described comprising a hub having an annular chamber, a rini,spokes connecting the hub 'and -rim,cer tain spokcsdiaving communication with the annular chamber of the hub, plungers arf ranged to operate in certain spokes and having their outer ends adapted to engagettlie tire, toggle linksl connecting certain other spokes with the tire to limit tliecircumferential play of the lattcrand other pliingers arranged to operate in certain spokesand forming air compressors ,for charging'the' annular chamber of the hub with air under pressure, said plungcrs having a pin and slot connection with the tire.

A vehicle wheel comprising a hub having au annular chamber, a rim, spokes connecting the hub and rim, liibes connected with .the iiiiiei' ends of certain spokes and extending into the annularcliamlier of the hub, outwardly closing valves having their stems arranged to operate in the said tubes and closing lopenings Ain the inner ciids of the spokes provided with the tubes, plunger-s arranged to operate in said spokes and forming air compressors for charging the annular -cliziiiiber ol the hub with air under pressure,

said plungers having connection at their` louter on'ds with the tire, other plunger-s aI'- range'd to operate in certain spokes and provided at their outer ends with wheels to travel against thc iniicr wall of the tire, and toggle connections between the rim and tire to limit the circumferential play of the latter'.

1. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub having an annular chamber, ir rim, spokesconneet-ing vthe hub and rim, certainspokes bcing hollow and in coiiiinunicat-ion.with the annular chamber of the hub, plungersarranged to operate in certain spokes and forming air compressors therewith and having slotted heads at their outer ends, pins passing through said slotted hemis and con neciing them with the tire, plungers ar ranged to operaie in eeriain spokes and plo vided at their outer ends with Wheeis to travel against the inner wall o the tire, and rings secured to the outer sides of the rim and having their outer edge portions touch-- es eti."

ing the inner sides of the edge the tire.

In testimony whereof I aiix my sig-justure in presence o1 tWe Witnesses.

ALBERT JUHNSTGH. Witnesses I V. B. HILLYAPDa BENNETT S. JONES. 

